A hybrid Atlantic puffin population on the remote Norwegian island of Bjornoya...

Inside Climate News 2 years ago

A hybrid Atlantic puffin population on the remote Norwegian island of Bjornoya likely arose from the breeding between two subspecies within the past 100 or so years, coinciding with the onset of the 20th-century warming pattern, researchers report in a paper published October 2023 in the journal Science Advances. Strikingly, the hybridization occurred after a subspecies migrated southward, not poleward toward cooler temperatures, as might have been expected, a finding that highlights the complexity of the changes underway in the Arctic ecosystem. Additional analysis also shows a significant loss of genetic diversity in the populations studied, an alarming development for the prospective health of Arctic puffins, the researchers write. “Both the timing of the hybridization as well as the genomic erosion really provide this compelling evidence that the last few years have been tremendously impactful on the Arctic communities,” said Oliver Kersten, the paper’s lead author and a postdoctoral researcher in genomics and marine ecology at the University of Oslo. Find the story at the link in our bio, our Stories or the “Links to Latest Posts” highlight on our page. 📸: Sergio Pitamitz/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 9 hours ago



Renewable energy supply remains at the centre of sustainable construction progress, driven by a sharper emphasis on whole life carbon reduction and embodied carbon transparency. The landmark Power Purchase Agreement between Ecotricity and major UK venues such as The O2 and Hammersmith Apollo introduces hourly-matched renewable electricity directly into construction-adjacent infrastructure. This approach demonstrates how low carbon design and sustainable building practices are extending beyond individual projects to influence energy management across the built environment, creating a measurable impact on the carbon footprint of construction.

Innovation in low carbon building technology has accelerated through electric vehicle integration within heavy industry. Munro, the Glasgow-based manufacturer of electric 4x4 vehicles, has secured £2 million to expand production for mining, defence and construction sectors. The company’s portfolio aligns with net zero carbon buildings objectives and supports the decarbonising of the built environment, enabling contractors to meet life cycle cost targets through improved efficiency and reduced fuel dependency. Such advancements signal how sustainable design is being applied to both the machinery and materials that underpin green construction.

In materials science, the substitution of traditional carbon black with char—an upcycled byproduct of chemical recycling—marks a step forward in circular economy in construction principles. This innovation reflects a growing reliance on low embodied carbon materials and supports eco-friendly construction through reduced dependency on fossil-based additives. The move embodies whole life carbon assessment methodologies where each material’s energy input and reusability are evaluated to enhance building lifecycle performance, ensuring resource efficiency in construction extends across entire supply chains.

Skills and regulatory frameworks are evolving to match these innovations. The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals has launched the UK’s first accredited carbon accounting curriculum, designed to support ESG practitioners in conducting lifecycle assessments and environmental product declarations (EPDs). By integrating life cycle thinking in construction education, the programme strengthens understanding of embodied carbon in materials and fosters sustainable material specification that ensures transparency within sustainable building design. It also aligns with standards such as BREEAM and BREEAM v7, essential benchmarks for environmental sustainability in construction.

Policy continues to reinforce technical change. The EU’s simplification of its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism deepens alignment between trade and climate performance, addressing the environmental impact of construction imports while reinforcing circular economy goals. The initiative strengthens Europe’s drive toward carbon neutral construction and reinforces the importance of end-of-life reuse in construction. Together, these shifts suggest a sector embedding whole life thinking at scale, where green building materials, renewable building resources and eco-design for buildings converge to deliver net zero whole life carbon outcomes that redefine sustainable urban development.

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